Monterey, California, March 9, 2007; The Monterey Jazz Festival, a leader in jazz education since its inception in 1958 and winner of the 2006 JazzTimes Readers’ Poll for Best Festival, has announced the 3rd Annual Next Generation Festival, scheduled for March 22-25, 2007 in downtown Monterey. The weekend event, devoted to the future of jazz, includes the Festival's 37th Annual National High School Jazz Competition, with big bands, combos, vocal ensembles and individual musicians vying for a spot on the stages of the 50th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival presented by Verizon.

All Next Generation Festival competition activities are open to the public, free of charge. Complete schedule at www.montereyjazzfestival.org.

Attracting musicians from some of the most prestigious educational programs in the country, MJF'S Next Generation Festival represents the largest gathering of young jazz talent on the Monterey Peninsula, outside of the Monterey Jazz Festival itself. Over forty groups from ten states, from Alaska to Connecticut, will participate in the prestigious event.

The NGF weekend starts with a Kick-Off Concert in downtown Monterey's historic Golden State Theatre, featuring the judges from MJF's National High School Jazz Competition and Grammy Award winner/2007 MJF Artist-In-Residence Terence Blanchard.

Pensacola JazzFest, a free jazz festival, will be held the weekend of March 31-April 1 in Seville Square in historic downtown Pensacola. This small jazz festival will be celebrating its 24th consecutive year. This annual spring event is administered by the Jazz Society of Pensacola in association with the Arts Council of Northwest Florida and radio station WUWF-FM.

Headliners will include veteran seven-string guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, pianist John Colianni, bassist/vocalist Nicki Parrot and vocalist Kevin Mahogany. JazzFest music director Crystal Joy Albert said, “We are pleased to have this outstanding group of headliners. Bucky, John and Nicki are all based in New York and have performed together. Colianni was longtime pianist and music director for late vocalist Mel Torme.’

Pizzarelli has performed with jazz people in and around New York for decades, including Benny Goodman and even the “Three Suns.” Kevin Mahogany has been named ‘America’s Number One Vocalist.’ And, how many excellent lady bass players do you know who also sing? Ms. Parrot (pronounce par-ROT) is a marvelous bassist as well as a singer.”

From straight ahead to contemporary jazz, scorching blues to swinging big band, fiery salsa and world music, the 29th annual Playboy Jazz Festival will present a stellar lineup of talent, representing the entire spectrum of jazz on Saturday and Sunday, June 16th and 17th, at the world famous Hollywood Bowl. Featuring renowned jazz giants, international superstars, and emerging newcomers, the two day event will present a variety of highly anticipated debuts by veteran artists and today's most acclaimed young talents, as well as the return of popular Festival favorites.

The high priestess of the blues, three time Grammy winner Etta James performs with the heartfelt passion of someone who has lived what she sings. With over a dozen top ten R& B smashes and more than 25 chart toppers to her credit, she is the recipient of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Lifetime Achievement Award, is in the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame and has her own star on the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame. Returning to the Festival for her seventh appearance, the incomparable James will perform with her well known Roots Band, showing off the extraordinary vocal prowess and sassy blues style that has become her trademark, and made her a Festival favorite who never fails to rock the house.

The 27th Cape May Jazz Festival, presented by Bank of America, is very proud to announce its Spring festival lineup, in tribute to the legendary jazz guitarist, Wes Montgomery, April 20th, 21st , and 22nd, 2007. Wes Montgomery’s ingenuity and dedication to innovative jazz guitar, combined with his soft, swinging sound, set the artistic pace and mood for Jazz throughout the 1960s. PAT MARTINO opens up the festival at Cape May Convention Hall on Friday April 20th, honoring one of the most influential jazz guitarists of all time. Further “Tributes to Wes” by guitarists TEDDY ROYAL, BOB DEVOS and BRIAN BETZ plus jazz vocalist EVERETT GREENE, continue throughout the weekend.

Throughout the country, Cape May Jazz Festivals are known for their quality performers, intimate jazz club settings and enthusiastic audiences. Musicians consistently cite the Cape May Jazz Festivals among their favorite stops on a world-wide stage. Co-founder Woody Woodland says “to witness and see the satisfaction and approval shown in the applause and the reception by the audience makes me realize that we are staying committed to our mission and devotion to the perpetuation of jazz as an art form.”

PAT MARTINO, headlining at Convention Hall on Friday April 20th, has been recognized as one of the most exciting and virtuosic guitarists in jazz. With a distinctive, fat sound and gut-wrenching performances, he represents the best not just in jazz, but in music. He embodies thoughtful energy and soul. Guitarists flock to Pat’s door for musical insight, and he offers not only the benefits of his musical knowledge, but also the philosophical insights of a man who has faced and overcome enormous obstacles. True humility from a gentleman with such a remarkable resume’ of achievements, including no less than four Grammy nominations, and Downbeat Magazine’s “Guitar Player of the Year”.

Chicago magazine once hailed the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival as “one of the best buys for your jazz dollars,” and it’s easy to see why.

Each February, the best college jazz bands in the country converge on the Elmhurst campus for three days of performances and education. The bands take turns performing for some of the greatest names in professional jazz today, who offer critiques and award a variety of honors. The professionals cap off each night of the Festival with a rousing performance of their own.

For the college bands, the Festival offers a great opportunity to learn from some of today’s greatest jazz musicians. For the audience, it’s a chance to hear up-and-coming bands—as well as jazz greats.

Quad Cities - In the Roaring 20's, Davenport, Iowa, produced a legendary jazz cornetist, pianist and composer whose worldwide fame continues to grow. His name was Leon "Bix" Beiderbecke, and his music continues to astound music lovers with the clarity of its tone, the musical imagination, and the complex piano compositions. He played with the great bands of the era—the Wolverines, Jean Goldkette, and Paul Whiteman.

Since 1972, the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival has been held annually in July to honor this unassuming young genius whose career was cut short by his death in 1931 at the age of 28. It has been named Iowa's No. 1 tourist attraction by the Iowa Department of Tourism. This year's festival will take place Thursday-Sunday, July 26-29, 2007.

Sponsored by the non-profit Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Society, and operated by volunteers, the Festival attracts the cream of dixieland, swing and other jazz-style bands from all over the U.S. and the world.

The bands to perform in 2007 are Randy Sandke's New York All Stars from New York, Bill Allred's Classic Jazz Band from Florida, Cornet Chop Suey from St. Louis, New Wolverine Orchestra from Australia, Titan Hot 7 from Florida, Uptown Lowdown Jazz from Washington, West End Jazz Band from Chicago, the Josh Duffee Orchestra from the Quad Cities, and the Creole Seranaders with Don Vappie and the New Orleans All-Stars with Duke Heitger from New Orleans.